The Purge That Awaits Us: A Reminder
Matthew 13
KJV
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42+ And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
In a recent conversation with some friends, a casual mention was made of death and dying; quickly the speaker was ‘cautioned’ and made to stop alluding to such scenarios in conversations.
When he asked to know why, he was told such topics “ spoil” conversations! In other words, there are some subject matters no one would like to hear mentioned or talked about in the open.
One of those topics I later discovered is where we shall find ourselves as professing believers when we pass away.
As is known and believed everybody wants to be in Heaven just for the fact that he/she is a member of the church. Which is true and desirable, however, what is not mentioned is the fact that before entering Heaven there will be a purge.
It is this “ purging” that Jesus was referring to in the above passage. Read it again
. “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;”
Please note that the “ kingdom “ of Christ mentioned there is the Church of Christ! The church is Christ’s Kingdom! So there will be a purging which is to be carried out by His angels.
All readers of the Bible know what Peter said concerning this very purging;
Read it
1 Peter 4
KJV
17+ For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
( Notice the three categories mentioned righteous, ungodly and sinner Everyone on earth belongs to one of these categories. Two can be found in the church, the righteous and ungodly.)
A purge can be likened to a police swoop undertaken in a community to arrest weed (wee) smokers. In the process, everyone gets arrested whether guilty or not.
Thereafter screening is done and the users are identified and arrested while the innocent are set free. This is what is implied in the scriptures above.
Comparisons exist from reading the OT. A similar purging was ordered by God. in the days of Ezekiel
Read it ;
Ezekiel 9
KJV
4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
6+ Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Beloved it is not a matter of church attendance, donations, etc these are good; it is about godly living and exhibiting godly character!
Of what use is it if I give to the poor, but am a liar, a wicked etc person, What is the difference between me and the unbeliever? The unbeliever also gives to the poor and tells lies and is wicked.
There will be a purging so let us examine our lives and ways always lest we be taken out. Read the warning John gave us;
2 John 1
KJV
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2 John 1:8
NIV
[8] Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
May the Lord bless us with an understanding heart and mind.